The Red Queens | Music Profile

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The Red Queens don’t look like a regular wannabe pop band. They’re comfortably outside of the typical age bracket – frontman Darien Graham-Smith turns 40 next year – and their look can be described as “eclectic”, with influences ranging from punk to what one might call mature student chic.

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“When we meet other bands, there is sometimes a bit of a coolness gap,” admits Graham-Smith. “They’re all nineteen, with fresh faces and achingly fashionable outfits. And then I wander in looking like I’ve got lost on my way to Waitrose.”

 

“But when you come to the game at a slightly older age you have a different perspective on that sort of thing. Some of the bands may look fantastic and unworldly on stage, but often the audience doesn’t really know how to relate to that. We come on as ourselves and I think we have a much easier rapport with the crowd.”

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“It’s a similar story with the music: when you’re young, you’ve got everything to prove, and as a result the material can sometimes be a bit wilfully extreme, a bit hard to swallow. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. But I think a lot of the best-loved songs – the really universal ones that hang around for decades – are your classic pop songs with four chords and a catchy chorus. And that’s more what the Red Queens are about.”

 

It’s a theory the band has developed over two and a half years on London’s pub circuit, during which time the Red Queens have grown from the original duo of Graham-Smith and bassist/vocalist Terrie McCann into to a five-piece line-up with guitarist Tom Derry, keyboard player Felix Kirsch and, most recently, drummer Bobby McPherson. In July, the group is heading into the studio to record their debut EP with veteran producer Paul Tipler (previous clients include Elastica, Placebo and The Wonder Stuff), and after that who knows what may beckon. Check out www.redqueens.co.uk for videos, downloads and live dates.

 

The Red Queens play The Islington, Tolpuddle Street N1 0XT on 29 May 2014. Admission £5.

Interview with Linda Barker

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I had the real pleasure of interviewing the incredible and talented Linda Barker recently and she’s ones cool cookie. Fit as a fiddle and has real energy flooding from her. She told me a few of her secrets about how she says so young looking and vibrant. Here is our brilliant interview with the goddess herself!

1. If you could give your younger self any beauty advice what would it have been and why?
Relax it’s all going to be fine. Don’t beat yourself up about small insecurities. This is because looking and feeling good mostly comes from the inside and so being healthy and looking after yourself and not putting too much pressure on yourself is the best way to stay naturally beautiful.

2. I understand you love to work out but what form of exercise do you think is best for women to keep in great shape?
I love cycling and come rain or shine, summer or winter, I love to get on my bike. I cycle wherever I can – into town for a meeting, to the gym, or around the park with my family which is a good chance for us all to catch up with each other whilst getting some exercise. It’s sometimes hard to find the motivation to start up a new fitness regime. I prefer to think of exercise as something you need to incorporate easily into your life, as if it’s too difficult or too much of an effort you wont end up doing it!

3. Who do you regard as the most beautiful woman in history and why?
Liz Taylor, was stunning and very classically beautiful.

4. If you could have had a chat with anyone about their beauty, fashion and style who would it be. Anyone at all, it can be past or present. The type of person you would really want to pick their brains about all their little secrets?
Kate Moss, she is the epitome of style and cool and I always love the way she looks

5. With an enviable figure you could pull of anything but are you going to avoid any fashion trends this season or are you a vivacious give it a go girl!!??
No, I love fashion and love to be able to try out new trends. I am very excited to see Kate Moss’ new collection for Topshop as I love her style.

6. If you could have lived in a past era what would it be and why. It could be you love the fashion or the style of living and decor.
At the palace of Versallie in the court at the time of Marie Antoinette. The architecture and fashions were incredible.

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7. What do you think are the key healthy ingredients to glowing skin and vitality. I love juicing and think raw spinach is amazing for healthy skin but I want to know your secret ingredient!??
I take a daily health supplement drink called Revive Active, which I heard about through some friends of mine who had tried the product after suffering from a long period of illness and they were absolutely sold on the product. They said they felt healthier, younger and fitter than they had in years all from taking this health supplement once a day. They gave me a month’s supply to try and I was absolutely floored by the results. I started taking it in the winter when I usually have the odd sniffle or two, but I was completely healthy all winter while everyone else suffered around me. I’m 52 years old and I have really have noticed how my body has slowed down over the past couple of decades, but since taking Revive Active my energy levels have been through the roof and I almost feel as fit as I have ever been! It is all part of the healthy lifestyle that I lead – eating right and exercising daily, but I feel in the best shape I have ever been.

8. You are an avid runner and a massive inspiration, how do you keep motivated when you are so busy?!
At the beginning of my week, I make a pledge to myself about how I am going to fit exercise into my schedule, even during busy days, and this really helps me to stick to it. I love yoga and find that it is extremely relaxing and definitely helps me to relax when things are getting busy. I try and do yoga two to there times a week but if I can’t get find the time to get to a class, I will try and do some at home. In the summer, I’ll lace up my trainers and go for a run in my local park, or I’ll spend half an hour doing some sit up and squats in my living room! Anything goes really, just so long as I do something!

9. What is your biggest indulgence, from food to fashion and do you have one designers style that you always love.
Shopping! I love to go on a spree. Shopping for clothes, jewellery, healthy food and antiques – I love it all!

10. What is your signature dish, one that makes you feel wonderful every time you cook it. One that you know everyone loves.
I absolutely love Ottelenghi recipes – they use such fresh ingredients and it is very healthy. I also love anything made with quinoa, which is a very high protein grain and is really delicious

11. Where in the world is your favourite place to visit or the most amazing place you have been to that you would recommend everyone to visit at least once in their lifetime.
Bali was incredible, it was where I first went scuba diving and was very naturally beautiful.

12. Name one thing this year that you want to achieve. A goal that you personally want to aim for and accomplish.
I am hoping to do a coast to coast cycle with some friends, and I’m really enjoying planning it at the moment

13. Lastly, what do you do in your time off, to unwind and relax.
My schedule is busy and so I’m often not able to set aside time for a holiday. If I don’t go away, I still make sure that I set aside time to relax and chill out – maybe a weekend away by the sea, or meeting up with friends and family for a picnic or a barbeque. Summer goes by so quickly and so I’m definitely going to make the most of it!
Now ladies we all chat about looking fantastic and purchasing the latest wonder foundation to give you that youthful glow, but I truly believe its whats happening on the inside that is the important thing. With all the stress and strains of modern day living I think we all need a little TLC so after chatting to Linda (who looks incredible for 52 I have to say, she looks almost 20 years younger!) its apparent we need to take a leaf out of her book and look within ourselves, not just learning to keep it real and don’t sweat the small stuff but to really make an effort to do the best we can for our bodies, minds and most of all ladies give our complexions a helping hand. Linda swears by Revive Active helping support her wildly active lifestyle and they are proud to announce the launch of their Feeling Fabulous campaign. Look good and feel good no matter what. Since Linda started to take Revive her energy levels have soured through the roof. When you have more energy you are able to cope better and more importantly it helps you keep active and in turn keeps vitality to an optimum high. Revive Active has been developed by doctors and scientists so its an amazing professional product. All the 26 ingredients are designed to work in conjunction with one another so they will create outstanding results.

I’m off to purchase my first months supply pronto! Linda looks so incredible, she’s witty, fun and a truly stunning lady! I want to thank her so much for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer all the questions!

 

Feeling Fabulous with Revive Active and Linda Barker. Revive Active costs 14.95 for a week’s supply or £59.95 for a month’s supply. Available from www.revivactive.com and all good health food stores.

Follow Linda on Twitter @ReallyLinda visit her website www.reallylindabarker.co.uk for all your home needs too!

Pop me a little Tweet @sarahbacchus if you are loving this lady as much as me!

The Rise Of Casino Games

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Something interesting has happened to humanity in the last ten years – we’ve all gone mad
for casino games. Perhaps it’s the promise of a little bit of glamour and escapism, coupled
with the influence of James Bond and the stories of bedroom gamblers who made it big (like
Chris Moneymaker).

CASINO ROYALE

No doubt the relatively recent ability to travel to Las Vegas from most major cities has
something to do with it as well. Televised poker certainly played a part a few years ago, but perhaps one of the biggest causes of this explosion in the popularity of casino games has been the spread of apps for smartphones and tablets. Ubiquitous Wi-Fi connections now
allow us to play roulette or poker pretty much anywhere.


New Players

For new players – and clearly there are plenty of them – it’s important to be able to get
reliable information about trusted sites, bonuses and the various strategies and systems that claim to be able to improve your win rate. Roulette is one of the most popular games online, as well as in land-based casinos, partly because it’s easy to understand.

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New players will inevitably come across the Martingale roulette system at some point, but
beware; there’s a serious downside to it, explained in an article at Fortune Palace. The fact that, in modern casinos, every table now has a limit means that even with a huge bankroll,
the Martingale system can leave you very broke, very quickly!

Set A Limit

If you’re new to casino games, whether online or otherwise, remember Rule Number One:
set a limit on what you’re prepared to lose, assume you will lose it, and walk away when
you’ve done so. The point, after all, is that it’s supposed to be fun! Remember that, in the
long term, the house always, always wins.

Certain games – like blackjack for example – can offer better odds (in the long term) to players than others. Texas Hold ‘Em has enjoyed perhaps the biggest surge in popularity of all casino games, and one of the reasons is that, while it takes a few minutes to grasp the basics, experienced players will tell you that you never stop learning.

Celebrity Players

Hold ‘Em has drawn in a raft of celebrity players, some more successful than others. Tobey
“Spider-Man” Maguire is said to have won millions of dollars in Hollywood home games, while Jennifer Tilly (currently the voice of Bonnie in “Family Guy”) does pretty well as a semi-
pro player.

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Ben Affleck is another noted Hollywood poker player, though after a big win ten years ago his success at the game seems to have diminished somewhat. It’s not just Hollywood types that play though – Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps is reported to be an enthusiastic participant and keen to improve. Ex-footballer Teddy Sheringham and Teutonic tennis ace Boris Becker are also regularly to be found poring over their hands.

So if you’re tempted by casino games, remember that the chances of winning big are small,
keep it fun, and get good advice – there’s plenty of it out there…

(Images courtesy of hardboiledpoker.com, pokerfanatics.com, zimbio.com)

New Transformers: Age Of Extinction Trailer Released

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The trailer for Michael Bay’s Transformers: Age Of Extinction has arrived and if you love action movies as much as we do you are in for a treat.

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Transformers: Age Of Extinction is out on July 10 in the UK and June 27 in the US. Will you go and see it?

Campaign Launched For Mothers To Be Included On Marriage Certificates

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Wedding bride and groomI recently went to my local council with my fiancé to give notice to marry and was both shocked and appalled to learn that mothers are not included on marriage certificates in England. In Scotland and Northern Ireland mothers are included, but not in England. This essentially whitewashes women out of the history of their own children. Mothers carry their children for nine months and then go through the pain of labour and risk their lives to give birth to them, apparently this isn’t enough to be included on their marriage certificate.

It was upon reading this excellent guest post on Mumsnet by Ailsa Burkimsher Sadler that I decided that enough is enough. So I have signed her campaign and you should to. After all, without women the world would cease to exist. Yet the children that we have get a man’s surname slapped on them and then we are not even important enough to be included on their marriage certificate. As Alisa says in her blog post: “Did you know that marriage certificates in England and Wales include a section for the names and occupations of the fathers of the bride and groom, but the names and occupations of their mothers are not allowed to be recorded?

In Scotland and Northern Ireland information about mothers is included. Civil Partnerships also recognise mothers, unlike same sex marriages, which mirror their heterosexual counterparts.

‘So what?’ I hear some corners of the internet cry – ‘haven’t we got bigger fish to fry?’ But imagine you’ve brought up your child on your own – when the most important day of their life comes along you won’t be legally acknowledged, and the absent father will be. And if you’ve raised a child together, imagine that only he is considered important enough to give his blessing to the union. And it’s about more than a hurtful snub – it’s about the erasing of women from the civil and legal system of which marriage is a central part. We’re writing women out of history, and it seems indicative of a society where decisions are made by men to suit men. ”

Enough is enough: please also sign the petition so we can end the sexism. 33,000 people have so far. Thank you.

Catherine

Follow Alisa here: Twitter: @nameequality

 

Designer watch- Demelza and the Daisies

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As we are now full swing into 2014 and Summer is nearly upon us,  it is that time of year we start thinking about our new wardrobe, out with the baggy jumpers and start shaving your legs again! This also means it is time to steer away from the high street and start investing in some one off designer pieces. Now this does not mean they have to cost the earth. So lets look at one of our featured designers.

 

Demelza and the Daisies (What a fab name!) is  a bespoke womenswear designer based in SE London. All garments are made to measure ensuring they fit perfectly,  garments are Inspired by a music lifestyle and the Japanese Lolita fashion.

Her previous collections have included designing one off pieces for individuals, photographers and private collections.

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Past collection (Photography by Emma-Jane Photography: www.emma-janephoto.co.uk)

 

She has recently launched some new Spring 2014 designs, including this lovely vintage skater dress, which we love!

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If you are interested in contacting Demelza and the Daisies or purchasing some lush Spring pieces, go to thew website at:http://demelzainthedaisies.bigcartel.com/about

Things To See: The Eiffel Tower | Travel

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I have to start this piece by saying that the Eiffel Tower has a special place in my heart, as just over a year ago my fiancé whisked me away to Paris and proposed to me. After his proposal we went to the Eiffel Tower. Before I saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time I always thought it would be long and thin. In fact, the Eiffel Tower is huge, both in height and girth. It is so vast and impressive that it is impossible to not feel just a little insignificant in it’s shadow. It is easy to see why the Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous attractions in the world, and is seen in countless movies and television shows.

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Even more shocking and surprising is that this genius of architecture and human ability is now 125 years old. How they had the technology and ability to do this 125 years ago always makes me wondrously impressed. It took 300 workers, 18,038 pieces of wrought iron, 2.5 million rivets, 10,000 tons, 984.25 feet high and two years, two months, and five days of construction to complete. Not bad at all.

The Eiffel Tower

Photo credit: Catherine Balavage

 

The Eiffel Tower is a must see, especially if you live in Europe as it is so easy to get to Paris. Especially on the Eurostar. And there are many amazing and reasonable priced hotels near the Eiffel Tower which can be found through Hotel Direct After getting over my general awe of just how huge both the base of the tower, and the height was, we went all of the way to the top. I even went out into the balcony at the very top. It was a little scary but I did not want to pass up the opportunity. The view of Paris from the top is absolutely amazing and it is quite an adrenaline rush.

In it’s 125-year history more than 250 million people have visited the Eiffel Tower, making it the most-visited paid monument in the world. Here are some more facts:

The view from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Photo credit: Catherine Balavage

The view from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Photo credit: Catherine Balavage

The view from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Photo credit: Catherine Balavage

The view from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Photo credit: Catherine Balavage

The Eiffel Tower is more than one colour. It is darker at the top and lighter at the bottom to counteract atmospheric perspective. It is also painted every seven years to protect the tower from rust. Fifty to sixty tons of paint is needed to paint the entire tower.

The Eiffel Tower was meant to be taken down after twenty years. In the end the French military and the French government used it for radio, and later tele, communications. When the towers permit expired in 1909, the City of Paris renewed it indefinitely.

The people of Paris originally hated the Eiffel Tower. Parisians thought it was an eyesore and newspapers received angry letters saying it didn’t fit into the feel of the city. Apparently, novelist Guy de Maupassant hated the tower but ate at its restaurant everyday. When people asked him why he said it was because it was the only place in Paris where he couldn’t see it.

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The Eiffel Tower changes height. Because it is made with wrought iron the metal expands when exposed to heat. This increases the towers height by 6.75 inches.

The Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world until 1930 when New York City’s Chrysler Building rose up to 1,046 feet 

Apparently, the Eiffel Tower wasn’t the brainchild of Gustav Eiffel.  It was his senior engineers Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier who designed the tower. Gustav Eiffel sent the engineers to the head of the company’s architectural department, Stephen Sauvestre. After Sauvestre’s edits, Eiffel finally got behind the plans and he also bought the right to the patent.

The Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France

Read our Paris In Instagram Pictures pieces for more great things to do in Paris.

 

Maya Angelou Quotes

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One of my favourite books is I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. In fact, Maya Angelou is one of my favourite writers full stop. She has had an amazing life and has overcame so many obstacles. She truly is an inspiring person so I thought I would source some of her quotes for you. I hope they add to your life in the same way they did mine.

Maya_Angelou quotes

‘There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.’

 

‘You can’t forgive without loving. And I don’t mean sentimentality. I don’t mean mush. I mean having enough courage to stand up and say, ‘I forgive. I’m finished with it.’

 

‘All great achievements require time.’

 

‘Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.’

 

‘Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.’

 

‘My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.’

 

‘No sun outlasts its sunset but will rise again and bring the dawn.’

 

‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’

 

‘A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim.’

 

‘You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.’

 

‘If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.’

 

‘When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.’

 

‘Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it.’

 

‘I work very hard, and I play very hard. I’m grateful for life. And I live it – I believe life loves the liver of life. Live it.’

 

‘When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.’

 

‘I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.’

 

‘Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.’

 

‘We have to confront ourselves. Do we like what we see in the mirror? And, according to our light, according to our understanding, according to our courage, we will have to say yea or nay – and rise!’

 

‘My mother said I must always be tolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors.’

 

‘Nothing will work unless you do.’

 

‘I learned a long time ago the wisest thing I can do is be on my own side, be an advocate for myself and others like me.’

 

‘It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.’

 

‘I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.’

 

‘We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.’

 

‘Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.’

 

‘One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.’